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As she prepared for tonight's performance at the New Orleans Essence Music Festival, Janelle Monae revealed that her tuxedo look is what triggered the controversy surrounding her sexuality.




She coined it "ridiculous" that people just suggested she was a lesbian due to her tuxedo look.




"When I started wearing tuxedos, people assumed that I was gay," she said, according to USA Today . "I think that's ridiculous. We come in so many different packages as a woman. There's no one way to communicate strength. There's power in wearing dresses and there's power in wearing pants. It's important to be unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable."




Her strong stance on girl power influenced CoverGirl to make her part of the #GirlsCan movement, an initiative that promotes the endless possibilities for women. Celebrities like Sofia Vergara, Katy Perry, Queen Latifah, and Ellen DeGeneres are also apart of this campaign.




"Girls can own their own recording labels," Monáe said. "Girls can wear tuxedos and black and white every single day. Girls can redefine what it means to be a woman making music in the fashion world."




Monáe shares the main stage line up for the Essence Music Festival with her iconic mentor Prince.




"I'm so excited to play on stage with (Prince)," she said. "He's the reason I'm here. Prince has been a huge inspiration for independent artists everywhere. We look to Prince and what he's done over the years to expose new talent as inspiration for us and fuel, absolutely."